Shoe-fitting stick.



O. C. RETZ-WOLLER.

SHOE FITTING STICK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.27,19I3.

1 1 99,423. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

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OLIVER C. RITZ-WOLLER, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

SHOE-FITTING STICK.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Sept. 263, 1916.

Application filed February 27 1913. Serial No. 751,131.

0 all whom it may concern Be it known that T, OLIVER C. BLITZ-WOL- LER, citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fitting Sticks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved shoe fitting stick such as is employed by a shoe salesman in fitting shoes and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character whereby the proper width as Well as the necessary length shoe may be very quiclny and accurately ascertained.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of the ordinary foot stick hava fixed heel block and a longitudinally slidable toe block, said latter block in the present construction, being also adapted for engagement with one side of the ball of the foot when the foot is disposed across the stick and against the heel block, said stick being provided upon its upper surface with a length scale and a width scale, and upon its reverse side with a chart whereby the last width may be computed in accordance with the length measurement.

Another object of the invention is to gen-- erally improve devices of the above character without materially adding to the cost of manufacture thereof, and to produce such a device as is of great convenience and servicoability in practical use and which will result in the saving of considerable time in the fitting of boots and shoes.

lVith the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe fitting stick embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view; and Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line H of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates the body of the stick which is provided in its longitudinal edges with the grooves or channels 6. Upon one end of this stick, the heel block indicated at 7 is rigidly secured.

8 designates the adjustable toe block to opposite sides of which the plates 9 are secured. These plates extend upon opposite sides of the stick 5 and have their edges flanged inwardly as shown at 10 and disposed in the grooves 6 whereby said toe block is held in position for sliding move- I ment upon the stick.

The upper surface of the measuring stick is provided with a length scale indicated at 11 whereby the proper length of shoe to fit the foot may be accurately obtained. The stick is also provided upon its upper surface with an additional graduated scale indicated at 12 whereby the last width may be obtained. The graduations are equally spaced apart and are numbered from zero to twenty-five, the line designated by zero being properly spaced from the heel block 7 to indicate the narrowest width of shoe last in infants foot wear. I have found by experimenting that in order to properly compute he last width which is indicated by letters, in conjunction with the length as indicated by the scale 11, the space between the lines of the graduated scale 12 should be fiYe-eighths of an inch.

The back or bottom surface of the stick 5 is provided with a computing chart indicated at 13. This chart is marked off into quadrangles as shown and the upper horizontal row of numerals 14 designates the last lengths while the remaining numerals arranged in vertical rows indicate the different last widths for the respective shoe lengths. stick may also be provided with such directions for the use of the device as may be helpful to the salesman in order to quickly familiarize himself therewith.

The length of the shoe last is obtained in the usual manner. The foot is placed upon the upper surface of the stick 5 with the heel closely engaging the inner vertical wall of the heel block 7. The ball of the foot is then moved downwardly into contact with the surface of the stick and the great toe engages the vertical wall of the toe block 8. Only very slight pressure should be exerted by the foot upon the surface of the stick. After the foot is removed, the necessary shoe length may be obtained by reading the scale 11. In order to obtain the necessary last width, the ball of the foot is placed upon The reverse or bottom side of the th upper surface of the stick 5 between the toe and heel blocks, and the toe block is moved toward the heel block until the vertical wall thereof engages with the outer side of the ball of the foot. If the foot is thin and loosely jointed, a gentle pressure should be exerted thereon, but if the same is thick and heavy, a heavier pressure should be applied to the upper surface of the foot. Upon removing the foot from the stick and reading the scale 12, with relation to the position of the slidable toe block, the necessary width last may be obtained. As an example, we will assume that the patron requires a shoe, the last of which in length is numbered 7 As is well known the last widths are lettered, the narrowest being AA, while the widest is F. Further assuming that the person being fitted is an adult and the width across the ball of the foot as indicated by the scale 12 is numbered 15, the salesman locates the numeral 7 on the upper row of figures let on the chart l3 and at the right hand end thereof, and then reads downwardly immediately below said numeral until he finds 15. At the end of the horizontal row of numerals in which the numeral. 15 occurs, the last width is given, in this instance, the same being width A. It is thus shown that the person being fitted requires a number 7 shoe and an A last. If the width happens to be wider than any of the widths marked upon the chart, a width broader than that indicated by the chart numeral should be tried. Assuming that the length indicated on the scale 11 is 7% and that the width indicated on the scale 12 16, either a 7B or 8A last shoe may be fitted.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and manner of use of the device will be clearly and fully understood. By providing the chart upon the foot stick whereby the last width may be accurately ascertained after the width and length of the foot have been found upon the scales 11 and 12, a patron may be quickly and satisfactorily fitted. The chart 13 may be stamped out of sheet metal and countersunk in the bottom face of the foot stick, as may also the scales 11 and 12. It will, however,

be understood that these scales and the chart stood that while I have shown a particular form of the foot and toe blocks, and manner of mounting the same upon the stick, the device may be variously modified in these respects without departing from the essential features or sacrificing any of the advantages involved therein.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

As a new article of manufacture, the herein described shoe fitting stick compris ing a long narrow stick 5 provided with a stationary block 7 on one end, a second block 8 longitudinally slidab-le upon said stick, said stick being provided upon its upper surface with a scale 11 extending the major portion of the length thereof and upon which the length of the foot is measured or determined, said upper surface of the stick also being provided with an additional scale 12 commencing at one end of said first named scale and extending in line therewith toward the stationary block, upon which latter scale-the width of the foot is determined when the foot is disposed transversely of the stick against the station- 1155 block and the slidable block adjusted over said latter scale into engagement with the side of the foot.

In testimony wnereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. OLIVER C. RITZJVOLLER. Vl itnesses M. C. IJYDDANE, E. L. lVIIrrE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

